Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Apparently I'm Advertising Now

Today, while I was on facebook, I found a post from someone on the free page to see if there was anyone who could take pictures of her and her boyfriend to use for their portfolio and a review.

I've been thinking a lot of different ways that I could make a little income for our family. We do desperately need to add on to our house after all. There's only so long that we can make 1 bedroom, 1 office, and 1 den work. Especially when the den the baby is sleeping in happens to be connected to the bedroom, the office, the laundry room, and the stairs that go right up to the kitchen.

I'd even been thinking that I could sew clothes and maybe get a booth at the farmer's market and have a little etsy shop. It would be perfect because I could do it all at home while the kids slept.

But then I saw that post, and it just sort of clicked that I COULD keep learning and practicing and growing in my photography and I could offer to take her photos for her. I could use it as a chance to see if maybe, just maybe, I'd want to do the same thing with my photography that I've done with my other big interest (horse riding) and make a business venture out of it. I could see how taking a picture of a complete stranger goes, and then move on from there and decide if it was really something I could see myself doing. And I totally know and accept that this would be something that I'd need to be willing to do for other people (for free) until I get two things on my photography wish list- a spyder4 or similar and a camera body that handles low light better.

So I posted that I was thinking about maybe one day becoming a pro but that I wanted to get as much practice as I could. That I don't charge anything because I'm just out there to practice and add to what I've already taken and posted a picture of my flickr feed. (You can see my flickr here). I again reiterated that this was something that I do for FREE.

Well, my post was removed. When I asked why, the admin said it was because I linked a business. I hoped that clarifying I do NOT have a business license, I do NOT make any money off my photography, and it was a PERSONAL flickr page (please note that the only pictures that aren't of my children happen to be of two of my friend's families). I was told to go advertise on a different site that's meant for services.

I guess it feels kind of good to think that she must totally think I'm lying about still being in practice mode and lying about not having a business? Maybe I'm on the right track after all... Even if my photos don't have an ugly watermark plastered in the middle of them.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Happy Day After Halloween

With all three kids, and the hubby out for work this Halloween, I was a little bit lazy in our Halloween preparations this year. I didn't sew ANY costumes at all, like I did last year. My oldest wore her parrot costume I made her last year (using THIS tutorial from Burda Style) since it still fit. My middle wore the hand me down monkey jacket we got from Goodwill for our oldest's first Halloween, and my youngest wore a tiger costume my grandma got her from a garage sale for my oldest's first Halloween.

The kids had a lot of fun. It was sunny all afternoon and clear through the evening, but we went to an indoor carnival instead of taking to the streets anyways. My hips are just too sore most of these days to be pushing them all around in a stroller. The carnival was a ton of fun though. The girls got to play lots of games, jump in a bounce house, and we even had our picture taken while we were there! My kids look absolutely NOT thrilled to be there. BUT they did have a good time until it was clearly time for us to be heading home.








Friday, August 15, 2014

Why hello again

Well it's surely been an awful long time since the last time I was here.

So much has happened this last year. A little over a year ago, we found out that I was unexpectedly expecting a new little baby to our family. I struggled a lot more with this pregnancy than my past physically and in some ways emotionally. I was a little bit angry that we were having another one so soon. Add to that complete disappointment when we learned I was having our third girl. (Until a couple months later, when I saw a post on ridding your bathroom of little boy smell. Oh the memories it conjured from my childhood with two younger brothers, and oh what joy that I will never have to go through that!) Physically, I am really a mess right now. My children were all born very close together. I was pregnant at each of their first birthdays even. Unfortunately that took a huge toll on my body. I'm trying to stay positive right now even though it can be difficult sometimes. I've had a lot of limits placed on my body due to sacroiliac and pelvic dysfunction, which in turn has made it so that I can't enjoy a lot of activities I used to do. I am working very hard at getting back into my photography again to help fill some of the disappointment that I am not able to ride my horses right now, but I'm also working really hard on getting back to that point.

Four months ago today, I gave my first kisses to the sweetest, most adorable little girl. She has changed my life in so many ways. I'm trying to learn to be patient with my body, which can be difficult as I am sometimes in a great deal of pain and it can be difficult to do even some tasks that should be a breeze. But it is getting better. I'm getting back into my photography and learning new things again- like this last week, I really poured myself into working on black and white conversions. I was getting so tired of it just being boring when I tried a conversion. So I am practicing and they are getting so much better.

I think I am going to start posting about other things too. Not just photos. If I can even update my blog once in a while.

But anyways, I guess it's just teasing if I post about this beautiful baby I have the wonderful privilege of knowing, and these black and white photos I am working on. So here are just a few. And yes, as you can see, Gwen still has her super crazy curly hair. Fortunately she is ok with it being kept short. Addy's hair is the complete opposite. It is so thick and full and straight and TAME. I guess will see how baby Bethany's turns out.